Bigots Fly Free

United Airlines may be under fire for its diversity efforts, but it just settled a nasty racial discrimination case

“Tell Yao Ming, 'Ching chong yang, wah, ah soh.” - Shaquille O’Neal in 2003.

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Co-workers couldn’t pronounce Alsunbayar Davaabat’s name. They couldn’t even pronounce his nickname, “Bondok.” So they called him, “Chinaman.”

Davaabat, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Mongolia, worked as a driver at United Airlines’ catering center at the Denver International Airport. He delivered food and beverages to United aircraft under skies that weren’t friendly.

In January 2021, a senior manager in food and materials grabbed Davaabat by his right arm. He gave it a twist so he could view Davaabat’s employee badge. Then he threatened Davaabat’s job and called him a “chink.”

When Davaabat reported it, United delayed an investigation for more than a month. So he quit, fearing for his physical safety.

On Monday, United agreed to pay $99,000 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging a hostile work environment.

“The allegations arose at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Asian Americans and those of Asian descent experienced public hostility and violence … based on a common misconception that Asians caused the virus or pandemic,” notes the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed the complaint.

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United settled without admitting the allegations, according to a consent decree. Here’s what the airline said about the incident in an emailed statement:

“After an extensive investigation, the manager in this case was removed from the workplace and is no longer with United. We offered the plaintiff re-employment in 2021, but he declined. United is pleased that settling this case will avoid protracted litigation for all parties.”

But the manager, who United says “was removed from the workplace” was not fired.

According to the EEOC complaint, the airline allowed him to “retire in lieu of termination.” He received a neutral reference, retained his unused vacation, and he even became eligible for United’s retiree pass travel.

Sounds like vacation time to me.

‘Good leads the way’?

As horrible as this looks, United strives to be an airline where “Good Leads The Way.”

Like all the other airlines, it’s been under fire from right-leaning activists for its diversity, equity and inclusion policies. And its CEO Scott Kirby has taken heat for a 2011 drag performance posted all over social media.

Comedian Rob Schneider scored publicity whining aboutKirby’s performance on X.

(It was Halloween. Can we get over it? … Yeah, I’m talking to you, Mr. Deuce Bigalo: Male Gigolo. It was a kiddie show compared to what you did with with Adam Sandler on Station 69, you sick, inverted freak.)

I’ll let the culture war rage on, but I will end the free portion of this missive with this:

If you are selling airline tickets to China and even Mongolia you should not have employees calling people, “Chinaman.”

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